I want to see Mr Abe goes to Germany, and make a public announcement in Germany's parliament that's broadcasted world wide, to explain in detail How Japan (and of course by extension, the political class including himself)was the victim of WWII.

Especially the little details about why Japan's "nazi" were different from their German counterparts.

Come on Abe, just convince China and Korea is obviously not enough at this point. You gotta convince Germany and EU too~~~

VERY generally, opinion-wise here, the Nips, like the Limies, live on an island[s] with insufficient natural recourses for their ambitions. So they both have had to focus beyond their shores, get about, and scramble to survive and pursue their national dreams. The Limies have done much better at this, supplementing their often superior arms with a lots of clever and attractive culture. Often they were quite liked, and occasionally even loved. Unfortunately, the Nips, sorry about this my dear Nip friends, have not been so clever, loved, or perhaps as lucky. To much Bushidō, Samurai, inwardly focused philosophy, perhaps an over-burden of Giri to bear, etc, and not nearly enough sincerely ATTRACTIVE TO THE WORLD Kabuki etc. Which is unfortunate, because the Nips can charm your socks off at a thousand meters if they flat put their minds to it. (Ruth Benedict, “Chrysanthemum & Sword”, was my great aunt.)

A lot is different now from 1932 when a group of junior naval officers and army cadets assassinated Prime Minister Inukai Tsuyoshi, (1855-1932) the then-Japanese-system of parties collapsed, and the military took over. Those events were not sure things. The Chinese, had THEY been less diverted, more clever, and certainly more lucky, might have influenced the scenario towards a more useful end. That CERTAINLY would have been in their better national interests by many orders of magnitude, QED!

Well, anyway, we are lucky we now suddenly have a very fresh, in-the-pink, and absolutely not grey-same-old-same-old-ambassador there in Tokyo. Don’t y’all DARE underestimate that girl, nope. Least, unless you enjoy possible surprises.

the chinese need not be smart here, all they have to do is to be dumb or play dumb and things will work out for them nicely on this mr abe thing.

the reason why? well, japns ought to know by now their job is to help deter or contain the Chinese on American whim, but not to the extent to damage sino-american relationship than permitted, as mr abe' japan is bent on doing.

by crossing that line, mr abe is in effect signing Japan's own death warrant.

that's where he should be ended up with. I mean this guy mr abe is really dangerous to japns people.

people generally assume china will not fight a war because it is still engrossed in its peaceful development in economy and does not want its economy damaged by any war act. I think that's all true for china vs. any nation, except one.

for vs. japan, reasoning no longer matters. Kenny rogers' [coward of the county] tells it all.

Japanese government foreign policy is only an extension of the USA foreign policy. Japan hates this subservient relation yet prides about the international power this relation represents for Japan.

Now Abe government is playing "smart" at the expense of the USA, someone at the very top may not be amused. The international community couldn't help to ask: "If the Americans cannot control Japan like she used to, who will?

Would she allow someone else to control Japan for the USA? It's probably mush less expensive for the USA to let someone else do it for America.

Japan is obviously dying a slow death either way and China will come out tops at the end of the day without having to even fire a single bullet. The Chinese simply have to focus on China; improve its country's social & economic capital endlessly. They have come a long way but there's still a lot of work to be done. China can only grow from strength to strength from hereon for the next 30 years at least provided they are not distracted again & drawn into another silly war with Japan (or US). History is on China's side & is a very powerful tool to her favor. That's why the Chinese leaders always emphasize this to her people & the world, & why not, they definitely earned it. The Chinese are a remarkable people & have displayed much goodwill for over 200 years to earn herself the high moral ground over the West & her east. Since 1949, Mao has started the process of putting China firmly back on track by building the basic infrastructure and foundation with which Deng could ride & capitalize on. GLF, CR & Tibet are but distractions to destabilize the social & political fabric. No where in history has there been a time when 1.3 billion people are so united as one nation; so educated (over 90%); patriotic; resourceful & hardworking. All China needs to do now is to increase trade with other countries; increase the profile of the RMB with currency swaps etc. while accumulating gold (thus putting more pressure on the US$ as the reserve currency); and invest heavily in science & technology (thus climbing up the value chain in manufacturing & ousting competitors like Japan), and the game's over for Japan. Democracy with Chinese characteristics is a luxury which will come naturally in time.

Mao used its centralised political authority to mobilise limited national resources and built the basic industrial and human infrastructures of a modern nation.

In 1949, industrial infrastructure was negligible. Electricity availability outside small urban areas was near zero. Literacy rate was below 20 per cent. Immunisation rate was virtually non-existent and average life expectancy 41 years old.

On the eve of Deng's reforms in 1979, China had built the framework of basic industrial infrastructures. Extensive national and local grids with about 10,000 newly built hydroelectric dams increased electricity coverage to over 60 per cent even in the poorest rural areas. Literacy rate reached an astonishing 66 per cent meaning well over 80 per cent of youth - among the highest among poor developing nations. Hundreds of millions of people were immunised, nearly 100 per cent of children at the age of one, and average life expectancy reached 65. In fact, by 1978, China's human development index was already closing in on much richer developed nations.

And all this was achieved with very little resource under an international embargo.

So I assume all that couldn't possibly be accomplished without an incompetent tyrant causing the death of millions of people? You're also ignoring the fact that most of the industrial projects during that time failed horribly, like steel factories that produced worthless metals. The Great Leap Forward accomplished a few good things, but I hardly think it was the only or best way to industrialize a nation.

You digress my friend, as is typical of foreigners these days whenever the topic of Mao arises. The point here is not "what-ifs" & "what-nots"; that's totally a pointless discussion. The fact here is that many things were improved and accomplished during Mao's era as highlighted above.

The Yasukuni ghosts speak of one thing only: the presumed superiority of the Japanese, a self-justifying stance that holds the rest of Asia in contemptuous disregard. This would of course make their neighbors feel threatened, who naturally see danger, not because this sentiment is illusory and out of touch with reality, (though the character-weakness is by no means unique to the Japanese;) but because this sentiment reflects an absolutist and uncompromising mindset; a mindset that encompasses not only the living but also the dead in the sovereign domains of control!

It is therefore totally inadequate and misleading to see Japan's “go it alone” attitude towards its Asian neighbors in mere diplomatic terms, or as mere consequences of geopolitics. One needs to look much deeper – to the roots of the national psyche, to assess and appreciate the religious overtones ringing in unison with the "last stance" mentality symbolized by the Yasukuni Shrine, which plays the role of guarantor of last resort of Japan's survival and unique existence on the face of the earth. Furthermore, this “back to the wall” mentality has its roots in the marriage of Japanese militarism and an ancient divinity, where god-head forged sacred alliance with the military, a fact so eloquently spoken by the death of hundreds of WWII suicide Kamikaze pilots. The word Kamikaze literally means 'divine-wind.'

Today, the Kamikaze pilots would find their equals in the jihadist suicide-bombers who act in the name of a different divinity.

mr. abe not only wants to hide Japan's dire economic and financial situations that he cannot hide very well, but also that japan has been running as a second class citizen nation of vassal state of the victor the us for 70 years that he thinks he can hide with loud mouth and provocative fascism stance.

mr. abe is not so much bad news for china, s. korea and even the us, as he is for the japns people.

Japanese do not need to blame anybody to define themselves as Chinese or Korean government have tried to do with its people. Unfortunately, for those, a Chinese or Korean identity is hardly accepted without an anti-Japanese sentiment.

China repeatedly flouted the Geneva Convention during the Korea and Tibetan wars, and has only been kept in check by Western powers acting in the region, yet the tyrant and warmonger Mao is still treated as a national hero.

If China can call the butcher Mao a hero, then Mr Abe can go and be superstitious at a shrine.

Abe's Yasukuni visit was highly calculated act. First, it was designed to embarass South Korean president who's father Takagi Masao was Japanese army officer. That's why you don't see lots of noise from South Korea this time. Second, it is intended to tease China over the island issue.

What are you talking about? Don't lie about the atmosphere of South korea. I think your opinion is just yours. I bet you never listen to south korea media. Most of south korean are very mad at Mr. Abe whom is stopping apologizing what Japanese did in 1900~1945.
South Korean is not embarassed. But Japanese must be embarassed of their delusions in 20C I think. Your opinion is absolutely wrong and stop making an inflammatory pronouncement. Abe is smart guy to you not to me.

Should the US abandon Japan or should the US take side in the year 2014 in regard to the possible conflict between China and Japan?

Abe is fervent in bailing Japan out of its economic stagnation with his different arrows, and the result is manifest at least at the moment, which in turn incites Abe to go even farther right to militarism to bring back a more powerful Japan or a normal country built on its own constitution without any redemption on war crimes. .

Historically, there have been three times when Japan became stronger. The first is in 1894 when Japan defeated and destroyed almost all Chinese fleets known as the imperial Beiyang navy, and forced China to compensate as much as five times of its own GDP of the year, which made Japan stronger. The second time is in 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and destroyed 60 % of the US Pacific fleet, and captured numerous islands affiliated to different western powers over the Pacific ocean. The third time is in 1973 when Japan took the second place among the major economies. Japan became stronger supported by the US and of course its own efforts.

What Abe will do in the year 2014 is to court his own ruins. Abe is unwelcome in China and what about the US?

I think Abe is probably being quietly encouraged by the US to abolish article 9 and re-arm. The stronger the Japanese are the less the US needs to support them. That may be why the US used the word "disappointing" in referring to the Yasukuni visit - hardly a condemnation.

Imho if the US heard that Japan was developing nukes they might turn a blind eye to that too. Mutually-assured destruction is a powerful deterrent. That the cold war didn't turn hot is proof of that.

It is sad but China and Japan are moving towards war which can end up in a nuclear war between China and USA.

On the side of China there is much anger for what Japan did in WW2. Just the inhumane deeds by Unit 731, google for info, with no apologies from Japan over it. Also the sad fact that USA gave immunity to some 1000 evil scientists and assistants of Unit 731. Some of these people became prominent in post War2 Japan. One became a Governor of Tokyo, another the President of Japan Medical Association and another the Chairman of Japan Olympic Committee.

Sadly the vast majority of Japanese, who are very different from wartime Japan and are decent people are unable to stop the right wing group led by Abe.

For us outside China and Japan we should get our Govts to be neutral in the conflict between China and Japan and urge our leaders to get China and Japan to use the COLD STORAGE proven method to manage historical legacies. This was refined recently by China and India in their new agreement in Oct 13 to manage a bigger dispute over vast territories in the Himalayan Mountains.

If you think the Arunachal Pradesh dispute is finished think again. If China can grab the Senkaku Islands AND the nine-dashed line it will make short work of Arunachal Pradesh. Chinese troops pushing into Arunachal - "South Tibet" - last year is just the beginning of that story.

Not only Abe visited the Shrine a week ago, his Internal Affair minister Shinto just paid tribute to the Shrine on New Year's day.
It is not just Abe himself but his entire government is made up of right wingers who believe Japan did no wrong during WW2 and Japan is the victim who just lost the war of self-defence to the aggressors. They will try to 'protect' Japan again if given the able chance.

Japan did many wrong during WW2 and Japan was absolutely attacker! I think you are just a stupid "JAPANESE RIGHT". Aggressors were Japanese in 1940's and stop thinking that you can cover the past fault by your king "Hirohito" and your millitary officers in 1940.

Plus, I recommend you need to read the real history book. You need to rather listen to the screaming of people who were under the Japanese imperialism than pacific war. Japanese in 1900~1945 did hurt Asian people so much and They never forget their history. True historians from Japan already accept their faluts and are embrassed of what they did. You must recognize that "Self-defence" doesn't mean "bullying to someone"

I am disappointed to see that the newspaper which calls itself "The Economist" fails to look into the economic aspects of this visit, namely its impact on Abenomics.
It was becoming clear that the "Third Arrow" failed to materialize by the end of 2013 due to Mr. Abe's failure to extract sacrifices from his rural supporters.
This visit was his own 'sacrifice' to tell his right-wing rural supporters to make their own sacrifice in turn. I would now expect some progress in TPP negotiations and/or agricultural reform before the end of March.

I really really wish you are right--that this is merely a tactic to revive Japanese economy. However, even people in Japan have long been wary of Mr. Abe's political sentiments. They were worried when he was first elected PM and similar concerns were raised when he won the LDP leadership elections before formally voted into office this time. So I'm afraid not.

"Concerns about China’s rise mean that many Asian nations, and even America, are prepared to put up with Mr Abe’s provocations"

This concern needs to be better defined. We certainly do not want to lose our leadership position in this world. However, what other concerns is there really? Are they really large enough for us to embrace Mr. Abe's renewed militarism? Or is it merely a short-sighted tactic to slow China in any possible way? At the end, a peaceful world with the Chinese on stage can only be maintained with our own superior economy, innovation and possibly military technology. If their economic model propels them ahead of us then no small-time proxy provocation through India, Vietnam, the Philippines or even Japan is going to keep us dominant.

You hit the point. The competition between China and US in the economic side has to be conducted in a peaceful and constructive way -- the world can not afford any military confrontation of any sort between these two giants. It is surely short-sighted to loose Japan and wish it will somehow slow down the rise of China.

Believe it or not, China is the biggest admirer of the US, and it learned everything from the US, down to the ridiculous detail , such as color of jackets of serviceman on a aircraft carrier. While China is busy copying the good part of the US, it seems it is US itself is leaving its own hard-working, thrift, modest, dynamic culture in the past.

Well. I don't think we've left our hardworking, thrift, modest, dynamic culture behind. We are a society of open debate, not a perfect society. We make mistakes. We apologize and we move on. That's why we renew ourselves. We self-correct. Sometimes the corrections are much later than what some hope for. But we do. Do not underestimate the United States. Not because of our guns or even the economy but for our values.

These "concerns" are just The Economist speaking on behalf of the neo-cons and the US military industrial complex. This article is ridiculously short-sighted not to mention one-sided. Abe's visit is nothing short of a deliberate provocation and is turning Japan into a major liability for the US. We are now seen as the protector of fascists and evil. The only concern we need to have in the US is when to pull our troops out of all 4 corners of the world and put the money into resuscitating our own ailing economy. Over 1m long term unemployed just lost their benefits today and we're pouring billions into building a new military base 10,000 miles away in a region that has nothing to do with us.

Our military presence around the world is causing more problems than it solves, by upsetting the balance of power everywhere. Let these regions find their own peace or run themselves to ruin if they can't find peace. Stop creating more mischiefs and turmoil around the world. Europe and in particular the UK has already done enough of that the past 5 centuries.

Fully agree. US is currently (2014) the only country that has to power to constantly re-invent itself + it has scale. No Asian power comes even close - you have seen it with Japan - it seemed that they would get close but then they failed - and you will see it with China. At some point in your development stage, you must be able to lead and reinvent yourself constantly, which requires consequent and conscientious self-criticism. The latter is something where East Asians - be it Japan, Korea or China are just too weak (at least for now).....